Carbonizing process



Patented Dec. 17, 1929 AfUNrrEo STATES ,PATENT OFFICE CARBONIZING PROCESS Application filed September 22, 1924. Serial No. 739,051.

My invention relates more particularly to a process of carbonizing comminuted or powdered coal or other' carbonaceous material in a continuous manner; the main object be ing to provide a method involving a continuous process of carbonization of coal from a gas making or gas enriching standpoint, While at the same time. enabling the production of acheap coke or smokeless fuel; the method being such that both low and high teni erature carbonization are possible.

l\ y invention is preferably carried out by the use of apparatus comprising a vertical retort, wherein either low or high temperay; ture carbonization are possible, arranged and constructed to receive powdered or suitably comminuted coal, which is fed or sprayed into the apparatus with the aid of any suitable gaseous medium`or steam; preferably by means of the gas to be enriched; the apparatus permitting continuous operation and carbonization and the production of a cheap coke or smokeless fuel.

The objects and advantages of my invention will be more fully comprehended from the detailed description of the accompanying drawing, which illustrates apparatus.

especially adapted for my improved method, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with intermediate portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

In the particular exemplication of the invention, as shown in the drawing, I disclose a pair of retorts 1() and 11, arranged one above the other in communicating relation and surrounded by a suitable outer casing or wall 12 in proper spaced relation with the retorts for conveying the heating-gases""or products of combustion which come from the furnace 13,v into intimate contact with the retorts.

The upper retort is preferably of heat resisting metal, although it may be made of refractory material; and while the lower retort is shown as preferably of refractory material, suitable heat resisting metal may also be employed.

The louter casing 12 and the furnace 13 are preferably made integral as shown and provided with the producer gas passage or, inlet 14 for conveying the hot gases intothe chamber 15 which surrounds the retorts 10 and 11; the hotgases or products of com- 55 bustion being caused to travel in a circuitous path around the retorts by means of suitably arranged battles 16. The outer casing 12 is shown preferably provided with an air passage 17 communicating at the lower end With o0 the chamber 15 by means of a suitable number of ports 18;'while the casing at points diametrically opposite the ports 18 is shown provided with suitable ports or sight openings 19, (having proper closures) whereby to observe the nature of the flame within the chamber 15. v

The secondary air passage. 17 -is shown leading from the upper end of the casing 12, where it communicates with a suitablel'lo recuperator or airpreheater 20, by means of passage 21.v The recuperator or preheater comprises a properly lagged shell having diaphragms or partitions 22, 23 adjacent to opposite ends of the shell suitably connected with the outer shell so as to divide the shell into separate compartments or portions for the products of combustion and the secondary air. The end of the shell 20, adjacent to the main casing 12, communicates with the cham'- a0 ber 15 by passage24, and the products of combustion are caused to pass through the tubes orcondu'its 25 and are delivered at the diaphragm 23 at the opposite end of the recuperator which connects with theA flue or stack. y

i The recuperator is provided with a suitable inlet 26 whereby air enters the shell and is caused to pass 1n a more or less circuitous manner around the tubes 25 by means of 90 bailles 27; Awith the result that the secondary aizr is preheated beforey it enters the passage l I. v

The' upper end bf the retort 11 is shown provided with a cap or top 28, through which the lower end of the upper retort 10 extends; While the upper end of retort 10 extends through the outer casing 12 and is provided with a head 29 which is shown provided with a valved conduit 30. The Conduit 30 may be 100 connected withja suitable source of air supply .or other proper medium; and this conduit has a valved connection 31 which may conneet with the supply of gas to be enriched or with a steam supply; the connection 31, in turn, being shown provided with a valved pipe or line 32 which is shown centrally located at one end in a nozzle or sprayer 33 which enters the head 29. One side of the sprayer is provided with suitable feed mechanism and, hopper at 34 for introducing the pulverized or commin'uted coal into the nozzle; the feed mechanism being operated in any suitable manner from a source of power.

The rctorts 1() and l1 are shownv preferably flaring toward the lower ends in order to prevent any possibility of the fuel clogging or becoming wedged therein and therefore ensures the fuel dropping down to the bottoms of the retorts.

The lower retort 11, adjacent to its upper end and at a point above the lower end of the upper retort 10, is provided with a gas outlet 35, which may connect with a suitable storage or gas' cleaning apparatus; the lower end of the upper retort 10 being smaller than the upper end of the lower retort 11 so as to A leave a surrounding'chamber for the rising frases and to permit the latter to flow out through outlet 35.

The casing 12 about the lower end' of retort 11 is shown dished and provided with an outlet 36 and suitable discharging mechanism as at 37, as well as a suitable closure as at 38, whereby the coke may from time to time be withdrawn from the retort or continuously be removed therefrom after the apparatus is in operation and the process is being carried out. This outlet 36 is also shown provided with a pipe 37a which may connect a steam supply, thusenabling steam to be introduced for the purpose of quenching Vthe coke before it discharges from the retort, and at the same time increase the gas production due to decomposition of the steam or a portion thereof under certain temperature conditions. l

The head 29, of the upper retort 10 is also shown provided with a normally closedopening 3S) for the purpose of introducing a test rod whereby to determine the normal or working coke level inthe lower retort; the normal coke level being shown for example in dotted lines in the lower retort at 4U.

In practice, the furnace 13 being in operation. the pulverized Coal or comminuted material is supplied to the yhopper portion of the feed mechanism 34 and the finely divided material or coal is introduced into retort 10 by the nozzle 33 by means of steam or other gaseous medium. The operation of the nozzle causes the finely dividedor pul-Y verized coalv to be thrown into contact with the heated walls of the upper retort, thereby a partial conversion into coke; the liberated gas as well as the small partially coked particles passing out through the lower end of the upper retort lO. The small particles of Coke are allowed to agglomerate in the lower retort until the proper working level is reached, as shown for example at.40 and the agglomerated mass subjected to further coking which cements the particles together to form a coke; while the gas flowing out of the .lowerY end of retort 10 flows into the upper chamber or endl of retort 11 and passes out through the gas outlet 35.

After the proper working level in lower retort 11 has been reached, the coke discharging mechanism in the discharge 36 is set in operation and the coke is removed from retort 11 at any desired speed depending upon the rate of feed of the powdered coal into 85 the upper retort 10, as well as the amount of volatile matter desired left in the coke.

After the proper working coke level has been -determined and ascertained by means of a test rod inserted through the normally closed opening 39, and the rate of powdered coal feed and coke discharge have been synchronized, the working level will be maintained and opening 39 may remain closed.

Then desired, the gas to be enriched, may be employed for spraying the powdered coal or material into the upper retort 10 and when desired steam may be introduced by pipe 37 a into the coke receiving or lower retort 11, so as to assist in cooling the coke.

Vith my invention, coking coal is carbonized continuously and rapidly. By practicing the methodwith apparatus as disclosed the coking is accomplished more rapidly than in the ordinary retort or coke oven systems, 105 because the heat isvery rapidly transferred to the ine particles of coal and also to the agglomerated coke particles in the lower retort. In systems as heretofore employed, the heat was caused to travel through the outer layer or shell of coke before it could reach the inner core or shell of undistilled coal.

In the practice of my invention, the rich v volatile matter is rapidly distilled otl" in the 115 upper retort; while the lean volatile matter remaining in the coke, still containing cementing material, although given a longer` time for distillation in the lower retort, is nevertheless rapidly carried on; with the re 120 sult that the total time for both operations is materially less than necessary in the usual apparatus for coal carbonization. As a result, coke can be produced in a minimum period of time; and blue water gas, or other 125 gases can be enriched. The rich gases which distill olf in the upper retort are not subjected to excessive high temperatures as in the ordinary processes where they are made to pass through the hot coke and consequently 130 are partly decomposed into gases of lower molecular weight with a deposition `of free; l

carbon in the coke.

My improved process is preferably employed for combination low and high temperature carbonization; the upper retort being maintained at a lower temperature than that of the lower retort where the coking is completed; and the rich gases issuing from the bottom of the upper retort are caused to mix with the lean gases emerging from the lower retort, to form a volume of gas which will .contain more heating value per pound of coal carbonized than is true with the gases resulting from the systems at present in use. s

What I claim is:

1. The method of producing an enriched gas and coke from coal in a vertical substan-v tially air-tightA chamber having upper vand lower portions and heated entirely externally, the lower portion being heated higher in temperature than the upper portion and having an outlet for the gas at an intermediate point between the upper and lower portions which consists in spraying fine particles of coking coal into the upper part of the externally and entirely heated substantially air-tight chamber where partial coking is obtained substantially instantaneously, allowing the partially coked heated particles to agglomerate in the c more highly heated lower part of the chamber to a predetermined level below said upper part to provide a gas space where the agglomerated mass is subjected to further heating, combinedly withdrawing, at a point intermediate of the pointpf introduction ofthe coal particles and the level of the agglomerated mass, the rich and lean gases resulting from the carbonization in the upper and lower portions of the heated chamber, and intermittently withdrawing the coke from the lower portion, after said agglomeration reaches the predetermined level.

2. The method of producing an enriched gas and coke from coal in a vertical substantially air-tight chamber having upper and lower portions and heated entirely externally, the lower portion being heated higher in temperature than the upper portion and having an outlet for the gas at an intermediate point between the upper and lower portions which consists in spraying fine particles of coking coal by means of avcombustible gas into-the upper part of the externally and entirely heated substantially air-tight chamber, allowing the heated particles to agglomerate in the lower more highly heated portion of said chamber to a predetermined level below said upper part so as to providea gas space, further heating the agglomerated vmass, withdrawing' th'e rich and lean gases from the upper and lower portions of said chamber at. an intermediate point above the level of the agglomerated'mass', and intermittently removing the coke fromthe bottom of the agglomerated mass.

3. The method of producing an enriched gas and coke from coal in a vertical substantially air-tight chamber having upper and lower portions and heated entirely externally, the lower portion being heated higher in temperature than the upper portion and having anputlet for the gas at an intermedite point between the upper and lower portions which consists in spraying tine particles of coking coal' into the upper part oi' the externally and entirely heated substantially air-tight chamber, introducing a combustible gas adjacent to the point of introduction of said particles, allowing said gas to flow in the direction of said particles, allowingthe heated particles to agglomerate in the lower part of the heated chamber to a predetermined level below said upper part so as to produce a gas space, sub` jecting the agglomerate mass to a further heating, and combinedly withdrawing the mixed gas resulting from the introduced gas and the carbonization in the upper and lower portions of the entirely heated chamber at a point adjacent to the level of the agglomerate mass of'coke.

EDWARD A. DiETERLE. 

